LaCie d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe

All current Macs can read DVDs, but not all can burn them. If you want to unleash your inner movie mogul, start backing up important files to dual-layer discs, or you just want a burner that does everything faster than your old internal optical drive, the easiest way is to add an external FireWire DVD burner. The d2 from LaCie does a great job at all of these tasks.

by
James Galbraith
, | 12 Jan 07

MPN: 301196EK

300979EK

300785

301195EK

301227EK

300786

Device Type: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM drive

DVD±RW (±R DL) drive

DVD±RW (+R DL) drive

Enclosure Type: External

Interface: IEEE 1394 (FireWire)

Hi-Speed USB/IEEE 1394 (FireWire)

USB 2.0

173x268x45mm

1.4 kg

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LaCie d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe

Though we’ve reviewed 16x DVD burners in the past, this is the first drive we’ve tested that features 8x dual-layer (DL) burn speeds. In our tests, the drive was able to burn 8GB of data in just over 19 minutes, a task that took between 27 and 43 minutes with 4x DL burners. The unit was also able to burn a 4.6GB DVD+R disc in just over six minutes, and copying the same amount of data from a burned disc to our test system’s hard drive took about a minute and a half.

The LaCie d2 uses LightScribe technology, which allows you to flip special LightScribe discs over after burning and etch custom labels directly onto them – a pretty nifty trick. However, it took about 20 minutes to print just one of the included template designs onto LightScribe-enabled media – which cost about twice as much as non-LightScribe media.

LaCie’s software bundle not only includes the LightScribe Labeler software, which lets you design and burn labels, but also the full version of Toast 7 Titanium, which would normally set you back £69.99. Most hard drives that ship with Toast only offer the Lite version.

To be clear, this drive does not support any high-definition formats (HD-DVD or Blu-ray) but then very few devices now available can play these types of formats yet.

OUR VERDICT

Whether you’re looking to add DVD-burning capability to your system, looking for an easier way to copy optical media, or hanker after the latest and fastest drives for burning DVDs – even dual-layer DVDs – the LaCie d2 can easily and speedily handle all that and more. And if you want to burn a custom design onto the disc, you can do that too – but be prepared to wait.